Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto, NYC, somewhere on planet Earth
Programs: UA 1K, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 8,291
Not sure if the electronic/RFID chip (ePassport) was considered back in 2005/6, but this was the reason cited by Passport Canada for the new 10-year passport.
Naturally, my passport expires in 6 months, before the new ePassport comes out!